IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 4/12/2012

YouTube gives live video streamers better production tools, ways to make money

It's been about a year since YouTube took the beta tag off of its live video streams and to celebrate it's flipping the switch on a few new features. One major way to pull in better content is to allow its publishers to profit from it, and now they can either by charging viewers pay-per-view-style or through instream ads. On the backend they have improvements like a guided flow to follow before events go live and real time data breaking down their viewership by geography and format. Finally, Google is also provided Wirecast for YouTube Live free of charge, a bit of software that it says allows partners to do all the production (capture, switching between sources, live effects and overlays and more) necessary for "professional looking" live events. There's more information available after the break, but as long as this means we never have to see another jump cut vlog then we're all for it.

YouTube gives live video streamers better production tools, ways to make money originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfram Alpha now does literary analysis, breaks down the Bard's work

Literary geeks rejoice! Wolfram Alpha has given you the tools to examine the works of William Shakespeare in ways you've never cared to imagined. Ever wondered how many words are in the second act of Othello? Or what the longest word is in A Midsummer Night's Dream? The answers to such (largely unasked) queries are now mere keystrokes away, and not just for the Bard's writings, either. That's right, folks, computational analysis of the works from such luminaries as Melville, Dickens, and Twain are on tap, too. The folks at Wolfram Alpha are also looking to increase the number of supported titles, so head on down to the source link and let them know which ones you want to see.

Wolfram Alpha now does literary analysis, breaks down the Bard's work originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That's right, folks: Instagram now supports HTC One X

Upon it's debut, one notable smartphone was curiously absent from Instagram's list of supported devices: the HTC One X. Thankfully, all of that worry is now behind filter lovers, as the latest update for this Android app has added support for HTC's premiere superphone and its stellar camera. In addition, the refresh is said to deliver better support for all devices based on NVIDIA's Tegra 3 platform, provide better support for tablet users and squash a nasty bug that'd caused Instagram photos to not appear in the gallery. With this issue behind us, we can now resume living our lives without worry or fear.

That's right, folks: Instagram now supports HTC One X originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple publishes support page for Flashback malware, is working on a fix

After the Flashback / Flashfake Mac trojan was exposed by Russian site Dr. Web, Apple has finally responded by publishing a support page about the issue and promising a fix. If you haven't heard by now, the malware exploits a flaw in the Java Virtual Machine, which Oracle pushed a fix for back in February, but Apple didn't patch until a botnet consisting of as many as 650,000 Macs was identified on March 4th. Antivirus maker Kaspersky has confirmed the earlier findings, and released a free tool affected users can run to remove the trojan from their computers. Other than the update already delivered for computers running OS 10.6 and 10.7 Apple recommends users on 10.5 and earlier disable Java in their browser preferences. What isn't mentioned however, is when its fix is incoming or any timetable on its efforts with international ISPs to cut off the IP addresses used by the network. This is not the first time Macs have fallen prey to malware and as their market share grows will likely not be the last, so don't think just opting for OS X is automatically keeping you a step ahead security-wise. Check the links below for more information about what the malware does, and how to get rid of it.

Apple publishes support page for Flashback malware, is working on a fix originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia makes Lumia 900 free to all AT&T customers, now through April 21st

Now through April 21st, any AT&T customer who purchases a Lumia 900 will receive a $100 rebate from Nokia -- effectively making the device free. The move is ostensibly a goodwill gesture from the Finnish manufacturer, which confirmed that a small number of early Lumia 900 handsets shipped from the factory with faulty software that caused memory management issues. It insists this problem is now fixed, and that come April 16th, all affected consumers may swap their device at any AT&T store or merely download the update. Previously, AT&T had announced a $100 mail-in rebate for new subscribers that'd purchased the Lumia 900, but thanks to Nokia, it's now effectively free for all. You might wanna jump on this one.

Nokia makes Lumia 900 free to all AT&T customers, now through April 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos Child Pad arrives at FCC, escapes drool-free

If our eyes don't deceive us, that's the Archos Child Pad that just arrived at the FCC. Now, we know what you're thinking: any proper test of this tablet would require someone gnawing on the corners and drooling on the screen, but c'mon -- this is the FCC we're talking about. Curiously, the test documents reveal support for 802.11n, which comes as a nice surprise, since we'd previously only known of support for 802.11b/g. As you might've expected, WiFi is the only radio in the Child Pad, which means the little one won't be pairing it with any Bluetooth devices or putting the hurt on your data plan any time soon. This rubbery, resistive touch, Ice Cream Sandwich-filled creation was previously announced for $129 with availability in late March. While the Archos folks may have missed that goal, with the FCC's stamp of approval, it appears your tike won't have long to coat the Child Pad in celebratory slobber.

Archos Child Pad arrives at FCC, escapes drool-free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast Xfinity TV iOS app adds integrated DVR manager so you don't miss Deadliest Catch

Comcast's Xfinity TV app for iOS has seen more than a few updates since it launched back in 2010 that added support for video on-demand streaming anywhere, live TV in-home with additional hardware and made various tweaks to the UI. Despite all that, until today's update doing something as doublechecking what was scheduled for recording on your DVR required popping out of the app and signing into a different webpage. The new integrated DVR Manager can be seen above and confirms, yes, that Deadliest Catch is securely in our queue for this evening. We're not sure what's going to happen in the season eight premiere, but we suspect someone is going to worried about whether or not they're catching enough crabs on this trip.

Comcast Xfinity TV iOS app adds integrated DVR manager so you don't miss Deadliest Catch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed Roku HD spotted in stores, drops the 2 but adds some purple flair

That purple-striped Roku HD seen skulking about the FCC last month has now been observed in the wild by our friend Dave Zatz. It's apparently on shelves now, with all the features of the box recently introduced as the Roku 2 HD, but without the 2. As he muses, Roku may be taking a "new iPad" style naming approach to its hardware going forward, a theory supported by the support site listing where it's already elbowed out the old Roku 2 HD. As far as differences, it's mostly the same with the exception of full size composite outputs around that should make it more friendly to HD-less environments, while the Bluetooth (for the optional gaming remote) and microSD slot options have been eliminated. We've heard from Roku that this refreshed model has a slightly larger footprint due to those composite jacks, but will stay at the same price of $59.99.

Refreshed Roku HD spotted in stores, drops the 2 but adds some purple flair originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubuntu 12.10 gains Blue Systems as sponsor, Canonical waves farewell

Everyone loves a happy ending, and it's with this in mind that we share the latest round of good news from the Kubuntu team. Starting with version 12.10, the popular KDE variant of Ubuntu will have sponsorship from Blue Systems. Previously, Canonical announced its intention to drop its sponsorship of Kubuntu after the 12.04 LTS, Precise Pangolin release, but later revealed a willingness to let the Kubuntu team seek other sponsors. Fortunately, it's found a good one. Blue Systems has a solid track record in the KDE community and similarly sponsors distributions such as Netrunner and the KDE variant of Linux Mint. Likewise, it's encouraged Kubuntu developers to stay close to their roots and follow the same successful formula as before. The future looks bright for Kubuntu, and it's full of Plasma.

Kubuntu 12.10 gains Blue Systems as sponsor, Canonical waves farewell originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CloudOn bolsters its Office-friendly iPad app with support for Box and Adobe Reader

CloudOn managed to attract a fair bit of attention earlier this year with its cloud-based app that indirectly brought Microsoft Office to the iPad, and it's now back with version 2.0 of said app. That doesn't change a whole lot on the surface (though there are some UI tweaks), but it does add support for Box in addition to Dropbox for storage, as well as support for PDFs, PSDs and other formats handled by Adobe Reader. As before, the app is free, and CloudOn assures folks that it has officially licensed the technology from Microsoft and Adobe.

Continue reading CloudOn bolsters its Office-friendly iPad app with support for Box and Adobe Reader

CloudOn bolsters its Office-friendly iPad app with support for Box and Adobe Reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adidas debuting miCoach tracking technology in this year's MLS All-Star Game (video)

While it's been a few months since Adidas launched those intelligent F50 miCoach cleats, it finally looks as if the German outfit's ready to test the tech on the football pitch. Adidas announced earlier today that its adizeros will be a part of the "world's first smart soccer match," during the MLS All-Star Game on July 25th in Philadelphia. With the help of the miCoach's tracking system, coaches are able to measure a player's speed and acceleration, how much ground was covered, the intensity of play, as well as spotting weaknesses and strengths. Naturally, the end results can then be analyzed on a computer or directly from an application on one of Apple's slates. Adidas says this is only the beginning, as it plans to bring the technology -- detailed in video form just after the break -- to other leagues around the world in the near future.

Continue reading Adidas debuting miCoach tracking technology in this year's MLS All-Star Game (video)

Adidas debuting miCoach tracking technology in this year's MLS All-Star Game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget HD Podcast 294 - 04.10.2012
This week on the Engadget HD podcast it's not all about Netflix -- it just seems that way. The streaming company has new apps out on the Xbox 360 and coming to TiVo, but we're also going to be busy talking about surround sound and possible reasons why more people don't use it. Other streaming services were busy too, with Comcast opening up HBO Go on the Xbox 360, Amazon on the PS3 and Universal Studios in Apple's iCloud. Later on we'll check out a few new receivers and discuss what we'll be watching this week.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)

Producer: Trent Wolbe

00:18:43 - Netflix for Xbox 360 updates with better contrast and episode navigation
00:27:12 - Netflix explains its recommendation system
00:31:03 - Comcast confirms full HBO Go access on Xbox 360 coming next week
00:34:15 - TiVo Premiere updates coming with new Netflix and YouTube apps; Bay Area gets Comcast VOD
00:36:30 - Amazon Instant Video app for the PS3 brings both Prime subscriptions and VOD along
00:39:50 - Universal Studios' films now available on iCloud, Fox still grounded
00:41:57 - Paramount flicks are coming to YouTube and Google Play despite Viacom lawsuit
00:45:25 - London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D
00:55:08 - Voice Control for LG Smart TVs to roll out by end of April, Magic Remotes to require spit guards
01:07:38 - Pioneer adds two new Elite receivers to its 2012 lineup
01:12:28 - Yamaha RX-V573 and RX-V473 receivers include AirPlay integration, 4K passthrough
01:15:25 - Must See HDTV (April 9th - April 15th)

Hear the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)

Engadget HD Podcast 294 - 04.10.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint website hints at Samsung Galaxy Note for the Now Network

Well, color us tickled, but upon our recent visit to Sprint's website, we found a curious, unbranded device that looks awfully similar to Samsung's Galaxy Note. Might this fantastic phablet be the next big thing to hit the Now Network, or is it merely the whim of a careless graphic designer? Only time will tell, but with Sprint's recent push for LTE handsets, it seems unlikely that -- if this phone were to arrive -- it'd feature Samsung's mighty Exynos processor that we love so dearly.

Sprint website hints at Samsung Galaxy Note for the Now Network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Micron ships RealSSD C400 mSATA SSD into slender Ultrabooks
The only problem with mobile gizmos getting even more mobile? The cost of those bantam components squeezed within 'em. That said, at least we have the option to trim a few more millimeters from the chassis of our next-generation laptops, as Micron has announced a new mSATA solid state drive that's engineered specifically for the increasingly crowded Ultrabook market. The RealSSD C400 emanates realness, boasting a form factor that's around the size of a business card and arriving with capacities ranging from 32GB to 256GB with a SATA 6Gbps interface. Furthermore, Micron has tapped its 25 nanometer process technology to craft these things, with OEMs having access to the first lot; upgraders can look forward to a Crucial-branded version later this year, but who knows how much you'll have to pay.

Update: Looks like our pals at Storage Review have a full review up, replete with more benchmarks and charts than you could shake a 3- x 5cm stick at.
Continue reading Micron ships RealSSD C400 mSATA SSD into slender Ultrabooks

Micron ships RealSSD C400 mSATA SSD into slender Ultrabooks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ergo GoTab Epic hands-on (video)

There's a new entrant in the cut-throat world of British budget tablet makers: Birmingham-based Ergo Electronics. It previewed its new GoTab line of Ice Cream Sandwich-powered slates and e-readers at this year's Gadget Show Live, but our interest was captivated by the most premium model: the GoTab Epic GTB9040. Interested in our impressions? Course you are, that's why you're going to read more after the break.

Gallery: Ergo GoTab Epic - Hands On

Continue reading Ergo GoTab Epic hands-on (video)

Ergo GoTab Epic hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix for Android updated with fresher UI for volume controls, other 'stability improvements'

Heads-up, Android users -- Netflix has just issued a revised build of its app on the aforementioned platform, and while the changelog here is but three points long, they seem to be somewhat significant. For starters, there's a polished user interface, particularly dealing with the volume control function, allowing users to more easily tweak levels as well as fast-forward / rewind. There are also a number of unspecified stability improvements and bug fixes, with some Motorola tablet owners reporting far smoother streaming. Updated it yourself? Let us know how it's going in comments below (and hit the source for a link to Google Play).

Netflix for Android updated with fresher UI for volume controls, other 'stability improvements' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notion Ink Adam 2 won't have HD screen due to battery constraints

Notion Ink has already revealed a few of the features its forthcoming Adam 2 tablet will have, and it's now also confirmed something it won't have: an HD (or higher res) screen like some of its competitors. In a post on the Designing Adam 2 blog, Notion Ink's Rohan Shravan explained that the company did have the option of a 10-inch 1920 x 1200 display, but that would come either with a significant hit to battery life or some other compromises the company wasn't willing to make (weight, size, charging time, etc). There's still no word on what resolution the Adam 2's screen will have. Shravan did add that a higher resolution screen is on the company's roadmap, but that will apparently have to wait for some battery improvements that don't also require a bigger battery.

Notion Ink Adam 2 won't have HD screen due to battery constraints originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Chrome 19 beta brings live tab synching to the fold

You know the score. You've stepped away from your desktop, and then you think to yourself, "Damn. If only I could remember that website I'd just visited." Now, users of Google Chrome's latest beta will no longer have that worry. The latest incarnation of Google's web browser gives users immediate access to all of their tabs, across all devices, which can be found within the new tab window. Here, users will discover an "Other devices" menu that gives quick and easy access to all those sites you just visited -- yet for the life of you, can't seem to remember. According to Google, beta users will see this feature gradually roll out over the coming week. Not a moment too soon, either.

Google Chrome 19 beta brings live tab synching to the fold originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores

Still patiently waiting to find out when Sony's NXT child will hit Canadian shelves? According to the Japanese outfit, residents of the Great White North can finally expect the Xperia S to make a grand entrance on April 17th. The handset is set to be sold exclusively at Sony Stores around the country, but unfortunately, there's no word on how much it'll cost. That said, we do know that the 4.3-inch Gingerbread device will only be compatible with Rogers network, so Xperia lovers on Telus and Bell need not apply. So, not all Canadians can grab the new Sony slab, but at least some of you can before your neighbors down south.

Continue reading Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores

Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link releases budget-priced MovieNite streaming media player

Better late than never, right? D-Link has finally decided to join the likes of Roku and Apple at the media streaming party with its new MovieNite device. It offers 1080p video content from Vudu, Netflix and YouTube, plus music streaming from Pandora and access to Picasa as well. Connectivity comes courtesy of 802.11n WiFi and a 10/100 Ethernet port, and plugs into your TV via HDMI 1.4 or composite video connections. You can control the thing with the included remote or via your handset with the free MovieNite remote app for Android or iOS. At 4.8 x 4.6 x 1.1 inches in size, it's a bit bigger than the offerings from Apple and Roku, but its $59.99 list price provides a cheaper avenue to 1080p content than either. It's available now exclusively at Walmart, and is currently a bargain at $48 online, though your in-store mileage may vary. PR's after the break.
Continue reading D-Link releases budget-priced MovieNite streaming media player

D-Link releases budget-priced MovieNite streaming media player originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Mobile Reader 10.2 adds signature, form support

For years, you've been eager to dump that aging landline-tethered fax machine, but those occasional signature requirements have forced you to delay the disposal, time and time again. Well it might just finally be time to kick that beige beast to the curb. The latest version of Adobe Mobile Reader for Android and iOS effectively negates that need for scanning signatures, delivering that functionality through an in-app Ink Signature tool instead. You'll also want to take Note of the free-hand drawing option, text markup feature, sticky notes, EchoSign integration, intra-document link and form support, search tool and thumbnail navigation -- all available in Mobile Reader 10.2. There's also an update to the desktop app, Adobe Reader X (10.1.3), which includes the same Ink Signature Tool and EchoSign integration available in the mobile version. Click through to our source link for all the juicy deets.
Continue reading Adobe Mobile Reader 10.2 adds signature, form support

Adobe Mobile Reader 10.2 adds signature, form support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cogoo's Turntable Rider puts the 'mix' in BMX, 'awesome' in these videos

What if a company built a mixer for your BMX bike? What if said mixer could wirelessly control the music you're grooving to while riding? What if we had two videos to prove that such luxuries do, in fact, exist? Japan's own Cogoo has gone well above the call of duty with its latest concoction, the Turntable Rider. Put simply (or as simply as possible), it's a multi-part system that enables a bike to become a DJing machine; the more complex the tricks, the 'better' the mix. Reportedly, the bike's own wheels act as jog wheels, the brakes act as a beat pad and there's even a gyroscopic sensor that doubles as a fader pad. No word on a set price or ship date, but it'll be making the rounds at events starting with the 2012 Kaikoo Popwave Festival. Enough chatter -- head on past the break and mash play a couple of times. Go ahead and prepare those around you to cease working and do the same.
Continue reading Cogoo's Turntable Rider puts the 'mix' in BMX, 'awesome' in these videos

Cogoo's Turntable Rider puts the 'mix' in BMX, 'awesome' in these videos originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony unveils E Series 14P laptops with gesture-based controls

They may not be the thinnest or most powerful machines Sony's ever introduced, but the new trio hopes to catch a few hearts here and there. A follow-up to those flashy VAIOs we saw a while back, these E Series models are each packing a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 display, an Intel Core i3 2550M CPU with 4GB of RAM and your choice of AMD Radeon HD 7670M or Intel HD Graphics 3000 -- all while promising up to seven hours of battery life. Run-of-the-mill specs aside, Sony's Gesture Control feature will allow you to swipe between pages and adjust bits like music playback -- though, at the moment it only works with Windows Media Player, IE9, PowerPoint and PowerDVD. The company's yet to reveal the 14P's price tag, but in the meantime you can decide which color best suits you by checking out the gallery below.

Gallery: Sony VAIO E Series 14P press shots

Sony unveils E Series 14P laptops with gesture-based controls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Space Shuttle Discovery to make final in-air appearance in 1,500-foot DC flyover

Folks lucky enough to be in the nation's capital next week will have one final opportunity to gawk at Space Shuttle Discovery as the decommissioned spacecraft makes its way to its final resting place in Washington D.C. The shuttle is scheduled for a 1,500-foot flyover between 10 and 11 next Tuesday morning, passing over the National Mall and Reagan National Airport atop NASA's modified 747-100. The craft will then land at Dulles Airport before making a land-based journey to the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Center, where it will replace the Enterprise shuttle, which is destined for the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan. That prototype shuttle is scheduled to land in New York City a few days later on April 23rd, where it will touch down at JFK mounted to what's likely to be the same Shuttle Carrier Aircraft scheduled to make the Discover delivery in D.C., though there's sadly no word of a similar photo op in NYC.

Space Shuttle Discovery to make final in-air appearance in 1,500-foot DC flyover originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook to open D10 conference: yes, we'll be liveblogging

The All Things D conference has a long history of wrangling an impressive speaker list, and this year's gala is no different. The outlet has just confirmed that Apple CEO Tim Cook will be the keynote speaker for D10's opening night, just two years after the late Steve Jobs last sat down on those very red chairs in a keynote interview of his own. In fact, Cook's sit-down will come five years after the historic Jobs + Gates discussion from D5, and we're told that this will be Cook's first onstage event that isn't run by Apple or for an investor group as the company's head honcho. As ever, we'll be on site liveblogging the back-and-forth, and we'll be hanging around to hear from NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, FCC chairman Jon Leibowitz and a whole host of others. Cook's appearance will kick things off on the evening of May 29th from Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Apple CEO Tim Cook to open D10 conference: yes, we'll be liveblogging originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy this book: Darren Murph's 'iPad Secrets'

We have something of a history of Engadget editors writing books on tech-related topics, and our esteemed Managing Editor (and Guinness World Record-holder) Darren Murph is the latest to join the club. He's written a book in which he'll enlighten you on some of the inner workings of Apple's favorite tablet -- and he won't call you a Dummy in the process. Heck, the publisher was thoughtful enough to put the man's signature right there on the cover, so if you're not satisfied it'll make forging checks and cleaning out Darren's checking account that much easier.

Buy this book: Darren Murph's 'iPad Secrets' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel adds rugged Studybook tablet to its student-friendly Classmate lineup

File this under: "Wait, that didn't happen already?" Intel just announced the Studybook, that tablet you see up there, and believe it or not it's only the first slate to join the company's lineup of Classmate products for schools. That's sort of wild, given the popularity of tablets and also the fact that there are so many kid-proof models floating around. And yet, the closest Intel had come until now was with the Convertible Classmate PC, a device that was more of a netbook with a touchscreen.

Like the rest of Intel's Classmate series, the Studybook is meant to find a home in schools here in the US and around the globe, including developing markets. And by most measures, this reference design is exactly the kind of product you would have expected Intel to cook up for such an audience. Starting with raw specs, you're looking at a 7-inch (1024 x 600), Atom-powered tablet that can be configured to run either Android or Windows 7, depending on the school district's needs. As you'd expect, it's been designed to take a beating from careless kids: the plastic, 525-gram (1.2-pound tablet) can withstand 70-centimeter (2.3-foot) drops and has a rubber band reinforcing the bezel to keep sand and other elements out. You'll also find rubber gasketing around the ports, which include USB 2.0, HDMI, a headphone jack and microSD / SIM slots. Though it comes standard with 1GB of RAM, the amount of built-in storage will vary from school to school: four to 32 gigs, or a 128GB SSD.

Just as important as the specs is the software package, which includes Kno's e-reader app, as well as the LabCam suite, which lets you do things like attach a special lens (sold separately) to use that rear-facing 2-megapixel camera as a microscope. As for price, Intel is quick to emphasize it doesn't set the cost (that would be OEMs), but it believes manufacturers who use this design can sell the finished product for $200 or less. No word, then, on when this might show up in a classroom near you, but for now we've got hands-on photos below and a pair of walk-through videos just past the break.

Gallery: Intel Studybook press photos

Gallery: Intel Studybook reference design hands-on

Continue reading Intel adds rugged Studybook tablet to its student-friendly Classmate lineup

Intel adds rugged Studybook tablet to its student-friendly Classmate lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft brings Word, PowerPoint, Excel to Symbian Belle handsets

As promised, Nokia and Microsoft have made the mobile versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel available to select Symbian Belle handsets. Earlier this year, the duo heralded the release of OneNote, Document Connection, Lync and PowerPoint Broadcast. With this latest software add, the Office suite for Symbian is (seemingly) complete. Those of you rocking an E7, C7, C6-01, X7, Oro, 700, 701 or 603 can acquire the fresh bits by launching the Nokia Software Update utility. Not bad for a dead mobile operating system.

Microsoft brings Word, PowerPoint, Excel to Symbian Belle handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ancestry.com offers 'most comprehensive' Titanic records, not in 3D

You could mark the 100th anniversary of Titanic by going to see a 3D version of a 15-year-old film. Or, if you're so inclined, you can do some more serious research on the matter, checking out what Ancestry.com claims is "the most comprehensive online collection of records relating to the passengers and crew aboard the legendary luxury liner." The genealogical site is opening up records relating to the famous ship for free searching from now until April 15th. Thousands of records on the subject are available, including passenger and crew lists, deaths and headstones. It's all a bit morbid, but it certainly beats sitting through the James Cameron movie again. More information is available in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Ancestry.com offers 'most comprehensive' Titanic records, not in 3D

Ancestry.com offers 'most comprehensive' Titanic records, not in 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingston HyperX 3K SSD review round-up: Cheaper than its predecessor and almost as good

Kingston's new HyperX 3K SSD has appeared, powered by a second-generation SandForce SF-2281 processor. Sizes ranging from 90GB to 480GB and are appropriately priced between $140 to $700 -- depending on your storage tastes. With a SATA 6Gb/s interface wrapped in a black and aluminum casing, the HyperX 3K looks ready to spar with Intel's similarly SandForce-powered SSDs. Kingston's 2.5-inch drives have also finished the review party circuit, picking up some pretty positive responses. According to Anandtech's testing, the HyperX 3K performs almost as well as its 5K predecessor, landing just behind it for light workload tests (309.4 MB/s on average) and a heavy workload performance (225.8 MB/s) that netted it second place. Overall, they reckon the HyperX 3K is a "no-brainer," offering great performance for less of those hard-earned dollars.

The relatively rugged design was the first thing that caught Storage Review's eye, due to Kingston's (presumably necessary) thermal armor. The site was suitably impressed by read rates, which were comparable to the original HyperX SSD. Write performance didn't hold up quite as well during tests and due to the reduced quality of the NAND memory used, you will see a drop on total write cycles possible -- something that mainstream users probably won't lose much sleep over. Storage Review maintains that when it comes to both performance and pricing, Kingston's latest "delivers on both fronts." You can take a closer look at what both reviews have to say -- and a whole load of tests -- at the sources below.

Kingston HyperX 3K SSD review round-up: Cheaper than its predecessor and almost as good originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs

When the Aura UI first reared its rather ugly head back in November it was unclear what the future of the project was. Now, though, the hardware accelerated window manager and desktop has grown up (at least a little bit) and is being pushed out to owners of Acer and Samsung Chromebooks running on the dev channel. It's becoming clear that Google is prepping to take on the desktop OS market on more familiar ground. The updated UI includes a taskbar, a Launchpad-like launcher and individual overlapping windows, while hardware acceleration allows for those new components to feature slick animations. Chrome OS 19 also gains support for a few new file types, including .gz and .tar, as well as a slightly updated media player. The only truly unfortunate thing is it seems Cr-48 owners are left out in the cold. One more screenshot after the break.
Continue reading Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs

Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn unexpectedly resigns, Mike Mikan takes over

From humble beginnings as a sales associate in 1985 with no college education Brian Dunn climbed the corporate ladder at Best Buy, eventually finding himself at the top of the food chain in 2009 when he took over as CEO. Unfortunately, for this rags-to-riches poster-boy, his reign has come to an end. Dunn and BBY announced today that the long-time employee will be stepping down from his position as chief executive and will be replaced in the interim by board member Mike Mikan. The big box retailer said in a statement that the agreement was mutual and the decision had nothing to do with any disagreements with Dunn regarding "operations, financial controls, policies or procedures." However, with the company struggling so mightily, it's hard to believe that rash of store closings and poor fiscal performance are unrelated to the decision that it's "time for new leadership." Full PR after the break.

Update: According to the Wall Street Journal, the company has stated his resignation took place during an investigation into "certain issues" with Dunn's personal conduct.
Continue reading Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn unexpectedly resigns, Mike Mikan takes over

Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn unexpectedly resigns, Mike Mikan takes over originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon adds in-app purchasing to Appstore for Android devices, Kindle Fire

Amazon's Appstore has offered a typical application acquisition experience, save for one important detail: in-app purchasing. Beginning today, devs can now take advantage of the familiar revenue booster already available in the iOS App Store and Google Play, through the use of the Amazon Appstore In-App Purchasing API. The service will enable Android device and Kindle Fire users to pick up expansion packs, virtual gaming currency or manage subscriptions from within individual applications, with the same one-click purchase experience available in Amazon's online store. A handful of top devs like Disney and Conde Nast have already hopped on board, but those of you who haven't received an early nod from AMZN can now join in on the fun as well. Click past the break for a brief video intro from the e-tailer, along with a handful of testimonials in the full press release.
Continue reading Amazon adds in-app purchasing to Appstore for Android devices, Kindle Fire

Amazon adds in-app purchasing to Appstore for Android devices, Kindle Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Lumia 900 arriving in the UK April 27th, dressed in white

Sure, the US has already had its chance at Nokia's Windows-packing smartphone, but UK-based fans of the Lumia 900 won't have to wait too much longer, if the release date on Phones 4u's site is to be believed. The retailer currently has the handset's delivery date listed as April 27th -- a date that includes that white variant we've been seeing pop up from time to time. Also, in spite of some false starts, Carphone Warehouse also has the Metroed handset listed, though its date is the far broader "May 2012." We're sure Kourtney Kardashian is lining up her tickets as we speak.

Nokia Lumia 900 arriving in the UK April 27th, dressed in white originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's WiFi-equipped NX20 camera gets FCC mugshot

Pretty, isn't it? You're looking at a regulatory block diagram of the NX20, which is still unannounced but is probably the successor to Sammy's NX11 mirrorless camera. We're not totally sure how it'll fit into the manufacturer's line-up, but an earlier leak pointed to an APS-C sensor akin to the NX200's, plus a 20.3-megapixel resolution, 12,800 ISO, and built-in WiFi -- that last spec being about the only thing we're able to confirm from the FCC test report.

Samsung's WiFi-equipped NX20 camera gets FCC mugshot originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Design guide updated with new tips for app developers

Not all design choices are blatantly obvious, which is why it's helpful to see fresh sections being added to Google's official design guide for Android devs. There's a whole new chapter on how to create a good Settings pane, including what settings to make controllable or fixed and how to describe options in plain English. There are also new tips in the Navigation section, such as how to take full advantage of Android's ability to let different apps activate each other. There's no color-matching advice, unfortunately, but if you stick to black and blue you ought to be fine. Access the tips via the Google Plus link below.

Android Design guide updated with new tips for app developers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ICQ seeks comeback with mobile app update, new iPad version

ICQ, the resilient David Hasselhoff of instant messaging, is updating its app for Android and iOS, as well as its new Windows Phone version. The app already integrates with other platforms like Facebook, AIM and GTalk, but now it'll bring photo and location sharing too, as well as better offline functions so you can read or compose messages without a connection. There's also a new iPad version, although we're not yet sure if it's resolutionary. Either way, ICQ already boasts two million new active users since it launched on mobile platforms four months ago, so perhaps there's room for another rockstar in this post-SMS world.
Continue reading ICQ seeks comeback with mobile app update, new iPad version

ICQ seeks comeback with mobile app update, new iPad version originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba announces fresh C, L, S and P series laptops for back-to-school season

Chances are, college students are merely gearing up for finals, and the high school seniors among us are still months away from graduating. No matter to Toshiba. The company is getting ahead of the competition, showing off its back to school collection now. In addition to refreshing its entry-level C series, the outfit has redesigned its mainstream L and high-end P laptops. Look closely and you'll also see an entirely new line, the S series, which offers some of the same premium features as the P laptops, but with more of an emphasis on top-shelf specs than bells and whistles (because let's face it, bang-for-your-buck is likely to be a bigger priority for parents footing the bill). To keep things simple, we'll say this up front: each of these laptops is available in 14-, 15- and 17-inch sizes. Oh, and Toshiba isn't dishing too much on specs at the moment (Intel's Ivy Bridge processors still being shrouded in mystery and all.) Want the one-minute elevator pitch? You can jump straight to those pictures below. If you're curious about what makes each line distinct, follow past the break for the full breakdown.

Gallery: Toshiba C and L series laptops (Spring 2012)

Gallery: Toshiba P and S series laptops (Spring 2012)

Continue reading Toshiba announces fresh C, L, S and P series laptops for back-to-school season

Toshiba announces fresh C, L, S and P series laptops for back-to-school season originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba outs LX815 / LX835 all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge, overhauled design

Toshiba was fairly late to the all-in-one party, only releasing its first US model last year. Less than twelve months later, though, the outfit's already revamping its design: the company just announced the LX815 and LX835, which will replace its current 21.5- and 23-inch offerings. Both models sport 1080p TN displays, and sport an overhauled chassis with matte surfaces and recessed ports. Spec-wise, expect "third-generation" Intel Core processors (read: Ivy Bridge), up to 3TB in HDD storage, a max of 16GB of RAM, dual USB 3.0 ports (plus four 2.0 sockets) and HDMI-in. At the high end, you'll also be able to scoop one up with a capacitive touchscreen. Look for these starting sometime in Q3 at which point the 21-incher will go for $600 while the 23-inch model will command northward of $880.

Gallery: Toshiba LX815 / LX835

Continue reading Toshiba outs LX815 / LX835 all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge, overhauled design

Toshiba outs LX815 / LX835 all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge, overhauled design originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba intros Qosmio X875 gaming laptop with Ivy Bridge, fairly tame digs

In case it wasn't clear, Toshiba's overhauling its entire consumer lineup for the back-to-school season, and that includes its lone gaming rig. The 17.3-inch Qosmio X875 replaces last year's X775, ushering in Ivy Bridge and that same reined-in design we we've seen in recent photos. Though Toshiba's remaining fairly mum on specs (we bet this has something to do with not wanting to steal Intel's thunder), we can confirm it packs "third-generation" Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GTX 670M graphics with 3GB of video memory, dual hard drive bays, quad Harman Kardon speakers and four memory slots, with up to 16GB of RAM on board out of the box. The resolution can be either 1600 x 900 or 1080p, with that latter pixel count only available on the 3D model. As you can see in the photos, Toshiba's moved to a subtler aluminum aesthetic it's calling Black Widow, but what you can't tell from that vantage point is that this guy is 25 percent thinner than its predecessor. In case you needed more proof this is an Ivy Bridge machine, note the release date: this beastly fellow won't be available until June 24th. At that point, it'll start at $1,299, though the highest-end configuration will set you back a cool $2,499. That's more than two months away, of course, so for now you'll have to content yourselves with our teaser shots below.

Gallery: Toshiba Qosmio X875 hands-on

Continue reading Toshiba intros Qosmio X875 gaming laptop with Ivy Bridge, fairly tame digs

Toshiba intros Qosmio X875 gaming laptop with Ivy Bridge, fairly tame digs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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